UPDATE B4RN Connect 2450 Rural North England Premises to 1Gbps Broadband

The B4RN (Broadband for the Rural North) project, which has been busy rolling out a 1000Mbps community built and funded fibre optic (FTTP/H) broadband network to rural homes in parts of Lancashire, Cumbria and Yorkshire, has now activated its 2,450th connection and they continue to expand. JFDI.

The latest total marks a significant growth from the already respectable figure of 1,600 that we recorded in February 2016 (here), which isn’t a surprise when you consider that local people help to build the physical network and this also encourages a strong take-up (averaging around 65% in related communities, but rising to 100% in some areas).

Customers pay just £30 per month for a 1000Mbps (symmetrical) unlimited service and there’s also a one-off connection fee of £150, which is absurdly cheap when you consider that it’s a Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH/P) style network. Of course none of this would be possible without all those excellent volunteers.

B4RNs Coverage Map (Approximate Area of Work)

The good news is that B4RN’s roll-out hasn’t stopped and many more communities have since lined up to join the effort, often by raising enough investment locally and then gathering together a group of willing volunteers to help conduct the civil works. All under the guidance of B4RN and without any state aid support.

This week alone the network has found its way through various hedge rows and over boggy fields to reach the village of Clapham in Yorkshire, but plenty more look set to follow. In fact B4RN now hope to have 3,000 active connections by the end of April 2017. Happy Christmas to all those reached by B4RN’s network.

Communities Live on B4RN

• Arkholme, Newton, Whittington
• Gressingham, Eskrigg, Aughton, Halton
• Docker, Capernwray, Borwick, Priest Hutton, Yealand Conyers
• Quernmore, Abbeystead, Dolphinholme
• Roeburndale, Littledale, Wray, Wennington, Lowgill, Tatham Fells
• Tunstall, Wrayton, Cantsfield, Low Bentham
• Melling, Hornby, Claughton, Caton Green, Brookhouse
• Inglewhite (website)
• Keasden
• Yealand Conyers
• Yealand Redmayne
• Burrow, Overtown, Cowan Bridge, Hutton Roof, Ireby
• Casterton (website)
• Silverdale
• Mansergh
• Hincaster
• Dent

Communities Installing B4RN

• Yealand Redmayne, Silverdale, Storth (website)
• Clapham, Keasden, Newby (website)
• Cowan Bridge, Leck, Ireby, Masongill
• Hutton Roof (website) High Biggins
• Hornby, Farleton, Claughton, Caton
• Brookhouse
• Inglewhite (website)
• Barbon and Middleton
• Casterton (website)
• Dentdale
• Preston Patrick (website)
• Lawkland, Eldroth, Wharfe, Feizor and Austwick (website)
• Garsdale and Dent
• Chapel-le-dale
• Ingleton
• Mansergh

Communities Route-planning B4RN

• Old Hutton & Homescales, New Hutton (website)
• Kearstwick, Old Town
• Ingleton, Westhouse (website)
• Barbon, Garsdale
• Thornton in Lonsdale, Chapel-le-Dale
• Beacon Fell, Bleasdale, Chipping, Goosnargh, Whitechapel (website)

UPDATE 12th Dec:

We should also mention that B4RN are soon to start the hunt for a new CEO after Barry Forde confirmed that he would be stepping down from the role. Much of the technical knowledge and expertise within the company has rested on a small number of people, particularly Barry, and so B4RN’s Directors think that it is “both prudent and necessary to widen the spread of both technical and managerial expertise“.

As a result Barry will be staying on as both a Chief Technical Officer (CTO) and Director, although somebody else will be found to fill his CEO boots. We expect an announcement about this early in the 2017/18 financial year.